Expanding access to mental health services in Canada

Advantages of online mental health care

Often therapy works better remotely even when there are other options. Probably the commonest reason for psychotherapy failure is not sticking with it. For many people the greater convenience of online therapy makes it more likely they will complete their work. Regular attendance is also important for most people, and this is often easier with distance therapy, especially if the person is very busy or finds it hard to get out because of bad driving conditions, illness, depression, childcare, etc. You also have more choice of providers, so that if you live in an underserviced area such as Northern Ontario you have a better chance of finding a psychotherapist with the expertise and approach you want. Some people feel they have more space and find it easier to think clearly when the therapist is not in the same room; instant messaging (chat) may work even better than video therapy for people who tend to feel off-balance or judged when talking about their personal problems. Distance counselling can also offer greater privacy.

Why is privacy important for successful psychotherapy?

If you are a public figure, or live in a small centre where many people know you, you might prefer not to be seen at the counsellor’s office; this concern might cause discomfort that would make it hard to relax and focus on your therapy. It really is a good idea to keep your personal business to yourself, too. Also, it is best practice to avoid a dual relationship between a mental health provider and client whenever possible. For one thing, it is easier to talk freely when you know you’re not going to run into your confidant at the PTA. Of course, distance counselling only improves confidentiality when you have a private place where you can do your internet therapy sessions undisturbed. If you have a private space at work but are concerned about possibly being overheard, a chat session could be the answer.

How confidential is online therapy?

With various governments, commercial data miners and hackers prowling the internet these days, governments processing phone calls, and technology that can overhear conversations in offices from a remote location, privacy is not absolute. However a little knowledge and care can make communications much more secure than they would otherwise be. Gmail, Hushmail and some others are encrypted in transit, and rather than use Skype, it is best if your counsellor offers a professional platform such as Vsee, which is specially designed to transmit confidential medical information and would be very difficult to crack.

How can I tell whether online counselling is right for me?

If you are being treated in an office, and just working via internet when it is more convenient, there should not be an issue. If you are considering working with a mental health provider whose office is not accessible to you, any qualified psychotherapist, psychologist or addiction counsellor who offers services online will find out about you, your situation and the problem in an initial session so as to offer guidance. See Beth Mares Counselling.

The number one consideration is safety: if you are in an unstable state, if there is any danger of self-harm or of violence to you or by you, if you are or have recently been addicted to a dangerous substance, if your health is endangered by anorexia, etc.–an online counselor, or indeed any psychotherapist in private practice, is unlikely to have the resources to give you the best care.

There are other reasons you might decide to travel to an office if you live in a large centre and have plenty of options. For example, for some people it may be more difficult to do trauma work or other in-depth emotional work if the guide and support-person is not physically present. Marital therapy can be more difficult remotely, at least if the partners are both using the same device and can’t see each other’s faces; however, these disadvantages can be outweighed by considerations of practicality or privacy. There are some psychotherapy methods which cannot be used in internet therapy, though the main methods can. In general, distance has less effect when the client mainly requires practical help and advice than on in-depth healing.